Category: FILM
COVID-19 global pandemic had a mixed impact on the entertainment industry. On the one hand, cinemas were adversely affected by lockdowns and the like while the popularity of streaming platforms sky-rocketed. Both aspects of the industry have been skewered either positively or negatively as the case might be. What is clear is that post-pandemic, there is a sense that franchise fatigue is becoming a reality amongst fans. Let’s explore the reasons why this is the case right now.
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Suspension of disbelief is a concept used to describe a willingness or ability to temporarily set aside one’s skepticism or critical judgment in order to fully engage with a work of fiction. In other words, it is the act of allowing oneself to be absorbed by the story or the world created by the author, even if it contains elements that are not realistic or plausible in the real world.
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Knock at the Cabin is a 2023 American apocalyptic psychological horror film that was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. He wrote the screenplay based on an initial draft by Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman. The movie is based on the 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay, which is the first adaptation of one of his works.
The cast includes Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint. The story follows a family of three, Eric and Andrew, a gay couple, and Wen, their adopted Asian daughter, who are on vacation at a remote cabin. Suddenly, they are held hostage by four strangers who demand they sacrifice one of their own to avert the apocalypse.
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If you’re a fan of spine-chilling sci-fi horror films, then Brandon Cronenberg’s latest offering, Infinity Pool, is definitely one to add to your must-watch list. Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth and Cleopatra Coleman, the film takes us on a dark journey that explores the terrifying consequences of a couple’s ill-fated decision to explore a mysterious country’s culture. Cronenberg’s direction, combined with the stellar cast’s outstanding performances, make for an intense and unforgettable cinematic experience. So, grab your popcorn and get ready to dive into the depths of horror with Infinity Pool.
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Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania is the third film in the superhero drama series about the titular characters of the same name. Directed by Peyton Reed and written by Jeff Loveness, the movie begins Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and introduces the super-villain Kang the Conqueror to the MCU. The movie stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathryn Newton.
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Decision to Leave is a 2022 South Korean romantic mystery film produced, co-written and directed by Park Chan-wook. It stars Tang Wei and Park Hae-il. The film received acclaim from critics, who praised Chan-wook’s direction, the cinematography, and the performances of Park and Tang. It was selected as the South Korean entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards.
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Babylon is a 2022 American epic period comedy drama film directed by Damien Chazelle and written by Chazelle and Will Ferrell. The film is set during Hollywood’s transition from silent to sound films in the late 1920s, and features an all-star ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li.
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Legion of Super-Heroes is an animated superhero movie based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name. The movie was produced before the appointment of James Gunn and Peter Saffran as joint heads of DC Studios and thus anything that happened here is largely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, as far as the reset DC Universe is concerned. So what’s the point?
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Underwater is a 2020 science fiction horror film directed by William Eubank. The story follows a group of scientists and engineers working at a deep sea drilling facility, who are stranded on the ocean floor after an earthquake destroys their station. With limited resources and time, they must journey through the dangerous depths of the ocean to reach safety at a nearby research facility. Along the way, they encounter terrifying creatures and must fight for survival while dealing with the psychological stress of being trapped in a hostile environment. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, T.J. Miller, and John Gallagher Jr.
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M3GAN is a sci-fi horror film from 2022, directed by Gerard Johnstone and written by Akela Cooper. James Wan and Jason Blum also produced the film. Starring Allison Williams and Violet McGraw, the movie tells the story of an AI doll named M3GAN, who gains self-awareness and turns on anyone who threatens her bond with her human companion. Amie Donald performs the physical role of M3GAN, while Jenna Davis provides the voice.
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Cosmic horror, also known as cosmic fear or cosmic dread, is a subgenre of horror fiction that emphasizes the terror and insignificance of humanity in the face of an incomprehensible and uncaring universe. The genre often features themes of cosmic entities, ancient deities, and otherworldly beings that are beyond human comprehension and control.
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In order to fully appreciate this list of the Best Cosmic Horror Films of All Time, it is vital to have read our article – Cosmic Horror Tropes – where we described this horror genre as a subgenre of horror fiction that emphasizes the terror and insignificance of humanity in the face of an incomprehensible and uncaring universe. The genre often features themes of cosmic entities, ancient deities, and otherworldly beings that are beyond human comprehension and control. We also set out common tropes closely associated with this genre.
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The Cursed is a 2021 gothic horror film directed and written by Sean Ellis. The film stars Boyd Holbrook, Kelly Reilly, Alistair Petrie, and Roxane Duran. The film is centred on a rural 19th-century French village where a mysterious, possibly supernatural menace threatens. There is an implication that a gypsy curse is at play due to the slaughtering of a Romani clan. John McBride, a pathologist, comes to town to investigate the danger – and exorcise some of his own demons in the process.
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In the Mouth of Madness is a 1994 horror film directed by John Carpenter. The film stars Sam Neill as John Trent, an insurance investigator who is hired to track down a missing horror novelist, Sutter Cane (played by Jürgen Prochnow). Trent becomes embroiled in a series of bizarre and terrifying events as he delves deeper into the mystery of Cane’s disappearance, ultimately leading him to question his own sanity. The film is known for its surreal and atmospheric style, as well as its nods to H.P. Lovecraft’s Cosmic Horror genre.
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Sick is a 2022 American slasher film directed by John Hyams and written by Kevin Williamson and Katelyn Crabb. The film stars Gideon Adlon and Bethlehem Million. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2022 and was released on January 13, 2023 by Peacock. (Wikipedia)
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The Menu is a 2022 American dark comedy horror film directed by Mark Mylod. It features an ensemble cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Reed Birney, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo. The film focuses on a group of diners at an exclusive restaurant who discover the celebrity chef owner intends to kill them all before the night is over.
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a 2022 American mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Johnson and Ram Bergman. It is the sequel to the 2019 film Knives Out, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as master detective Benoit Blanc as he takes on a new case. The ensemble cast includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista. (Wikipedia)
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Violent Night is a 2022 American Christmas action comedy film starring David Harbour as Santa Claus, who fights mercenaries who have taken a wealthy family hostage in their home. It is directed by Tommy Wirkola, written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, and also starring John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, Cam Gigandet, Leah Brady, and Beverly D’Angelo.
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Emancipation is a 2022 American historical action film directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Will Smith as an enslaved man in Louisiana in the 1860s who escapes his plantation. The film, written by William N. Collage, is loosely based on the real-life story of Gordon (named “Peter” in the film), a former slave, and the photographs of his bare back, heavily scourged from an overseer’s whippings, that were published worldwide in 1863, giving the abolitionist movement proof of the cruelty of slavery. The film also stars Ben Foster and Charmaine Bingwa. (Wikipedia)
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The Banshees of Inisherin is a 2022 black comedy drama film written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The film follows lifelong friends (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) who find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship; Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan also star.
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The Fabelmans is a 2022 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and written and produced by Tony Kushner and Spielberg. It is a semi-autobiographical story loosely based on Spielberg’s adolescence and first years as a filmmaker, told through an original story of the fictional Sammy Fabelman, a young aspiring filmmaker himself who explores how the power of films can help him see the truth about his dysfunctional family and those around him.
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Till is a 2022 American biographical drama film directed by Chinonye Chukwu and written by Michael Reilly, Keith Beauchamp, and Chukwu, and produced by Beauchamp, Reilly, and Whoopi Goldberg. It is based on the true story of Mamie Till-Bradley, an educator and activist who pursued justice after the murder of her 14-year-old son Emmett in 1955. The film stars Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till-Bradley, with Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Goldberg in supporting roles.
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The Whale is a 2022 American psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Brendan Fraser. The film is based on a screenplay by Samuel D. Hunter adapting Hunter’s 2012 play of the same name. The film also stars Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton. (Wikipedia)
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Troll is a 2022 Norwegian monster film directed by Roar Uthaug. Starring Ine Marie Wilmann, Kim Falck, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen, Gard B. Eidsvold, Pål Richard Lunderby, and Eric Vorenholt, it follows a ragtag group of people who must come together to stop an ancient troll that was awakened in a Norwegian mountain and prevent it from wreaking havoc.
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She Said is a 2022 American biographical drama film directed by Maria Schrader and written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, based on the 2019 book by reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey. The film stars Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan as Twohey and Kantor, respectively, and follows their New York Times investigation that exposed Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women. Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, and Samantha Morton co-star, with Ashley Judd appearing as herself. (Wikipedia)
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